1000 Friends of New Mexico

TIDD Reform Update

1000 Friends of New Mexico continues advocating on behalf of the community for reforms to state and local policies guiding the application of Tax Increment Financing for new developments around the state. For a crash course on the acronyms TIF and TIDD and what they mean, visit these earlier posts.

1000 Friends of New Mexico helped initiate what is now a growing coalition of organizations across the state that is committed to addressing how Tax Increment Financing impacts the state’s ability to manage growth appropriately.

Since the TIF law was amended in 2006, New Mexico has approved the two largest Tax Increment Development Districts (TIDDs) in the country (of thousands in 49 states and D.C.) — both in terms of land area and taxes diverted. Both are in the Albuquerque Metro region.

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Posted on July 3, 2008 at 8:32 am and filed under Growth and Development, Local Advocacy, Tax Increment Financing | Permalink | Comments (0)

Solving the Water and Land Use Riddle

Want to help? Support our NM Water Project today and your contribution will be matched 1:1 by the Turner Foundation.

Members and supporters of 1000 Friends consistently rank water has the #1 issue challenging the state’s ability to manage growth. The most common frustration expressed by constituents to elected officials and organizations like ours is “why am I bombarded with messages to conserve my household water use, while the city and county approve new developments all over the region without even flinching.”
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Posted on July 2, 2008 at 2:50 pm and filed under New Mexico Water | Permalink | Comments (0)

Buyer Beware - Gasping Breaths of Sprawl

More evidence of sprawl’s decline is showing up around the country in stories like those listed below. The market is validating what we’ve been saying for a long time: “sprawl doesn’t pay.” Long after the developer has reaped the profits from turning open space into rooftops, the homeowner may be left holding the bag as energy costs and quality of life issues continue to manifest.

Hopefully, more families with thinning wallets and longer drives will seek more efficient development patterns that accommodate the reality of climate change and energy consumption. Read the rest of this post »

Posted on June 18, 2008 at 10:46 pm and filed under Housing, Growth and Development | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted on at 3:58 pm and filed under Housing, Growth and Development | Permalink | Comments (0)

Will Water Scarcity Curtail Growth in New Mexico?

 NOTE: 1000 Friends Water Project Director Conci Bokum shares the following commentary about the current water crisis in California and what it might mean if the crisis spills into New Mexico.

A recent New York Times article focuses on the unprecedented “curtailment” of development projects throughout California of those projects that failed to demonstrate a 20-year water supply. Said one water provider quoted in the article, “this isn’t business as usual.” Many Californians are growing increasing weary about the economic consequences of stalling or even denying projects that can’t find the water. (One wonders about the economic consequences when demand exceeds supply and there are no reserves to make up the difference.)

Here too, in New Mexico, we have been struggling with how to ensure there is adequate water to meet the growing demand. Read the rest of this post »

Posted on at 11:43 am and filed under Growth and Development, Climate Change, New Mexico Water | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here Come the Form-Based Codes, Part 2 - Draft Revision

The City of Albuquerque Environmental Planning Commission will be holding a hearing of the Form-Based Codes. Click here for details.

The revised draft of the Form-Based Code and an explanation of the major changes that have been made to the code are now available. Comments and Suggestions can still be sent from the web page.

Councilor Isaac Benton of District 3 notes that input from the public helped guide and inform the revision process. Please visit the website to download and learn more about the improved version of the code document. Free black-and-white copies of the June 2008 draft are available in the Council office, which is located on the 9th floor of City Hall.

For our take on the Form-based Code: click here to read our earlier post.

Posted on at 11:36 am and filed under Growth and Development, Local Advocacy, Transportation and Active Living | Permalink | Comments (0)

Inaction on Climate Change Racks Up Huge Bill for NM and SW

In a recent story from the Public New Service, 1000 Friends’ Water Director, Conci Bokum, gave her reaction to a new study about climate change from the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The study, entitled The Cost of Climate Change: What We’ll Pay if Global Warming Continues Unchecked, identifies New Mexico’s water resources and energy costs as particularly vulnerable if climate change fails to be addressed. A transcript of the interview can be found here. The audio (mp3) of the interview is available here.

Posted on June 4, 2008 at 8:23 pm and filed under Climate Change, New Mexico Water | Permalink